How To: Recognize Classic Movie Stars

Sure, you’ve seen plenty of classic movies, but they can be difficult to distinguish from one another, just like their leading men. They’re all in black and white, have similar dramatic music and their leading men seem to either wear suits with styled hair or a holsters with cowboy hats. This makes conversations about which actor starred in what as revealing as an Abbot and Costello “Who’s on First?" routine. Plus, names like Montgomery, Spencer, Cary, and Errol just aren't that common anymore so pinning an actor’s face from another era to his name can be as tough as winning the lottery.

To help, we’ve put together a list of classic movie stars who are most commonly confused and separated them into their own identities. So, instead of being “that guy who played in that old movie,” you can give him a name.

Find out who’s who and learn how to distinguish classic movie stars below.

Buster Keaton vs. Charlie Chaplin

They were both silent-film comedians considered to be the best of the genre, plus they starred in and directed their own films. Other similarities: They were short — around 5’5 — and were known for wearing hats, Chaplin a bowler and Keaton a porkpie hat. Plus Keaton and Chaplin both appeared in a film together — Limelight — directed by Chaplin.

How to identify Buster Keaton

Keaton was a master of physical comedy who did a lot of his own hair-raising stunts. One of his most famous stunts was from Steamboat Bill, Jr. in which Keaton stands still as a house falls on him — the home’s window frame lands around him, preventing him from being crushed. Keaton was also known for his trademark “stone face,” which was a deadpan expression he’d put on after a pratfall or other comedy bit. At the end of the silent era — the late '20s — Keaton had a drinking problem, but got his life back on track in the '40s. He won a lifetime achievement award in 1960, and died at the ago of 70 in 1966.

Most recognizable role:The General (1927); Keaton wrote, starred in and directed this film.

How to identify Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin created his own comedy character, the Little Tramp, who sported a cane, hat, small mustache, and was an icon of silent films. Some of his classic appearances were in The Gold Rush where he ate his own shoe and Modern Times where he moved through the wheels of industry. Chaplin also cofounded United Artists — the long-running film production company. Plus he’s known for having lived in exile from the States. Chaplin left the U.S. to visit England in 1952 when J. Edgar Hoover, who disliked Chaplin's political stances, revoked his re-entry permit. Chaplin finally returned in 1972 for an honorary Oscar and received a five-minute standing ovation. He died at the age of 88 in 1977.

Fred Astaire vs. Gene Kelly

Astaire and Kelly were the top musical male dancers from the 1930s through the '50s in Hollywood. Many of their roles overlapped — Astaire replaced an injured Gene Kelly in one of his films, plus they starred in a film together, Ziegfield Follies.

Learning how to recognize classic movie stars doesn't have to be difficult...